HS CROSS COUNTRY: Starpoint’s streak is still running

By Nate Beutel<br><a href="mailto:beuteln@gnnewspaper.com">E-mail Nate</a>

The names and faces change, but the championships just keep on coming for veteran coach Brian Lasher and his Starpoint cross country program.

Both the boys and girls teams at Starpoint won ECIC III titles Saturday afternoon at Alden High School at the league championships. It was the 13th consecutive league title for the Starpoint boys. The Spartans had won eight straight championships in the Niagara-Orleans League before taking the last five in ECIC III.

Junior Zach Ahart was the ECIC III individual champion as he crossed the finish line in 17 minutes. His time was good enough for sixth overall. Also named to the first team all-ECIC III team was Lee Gugino, who was sixth in 18:43. Second-team honorees included eighth-place finisher Cam Laderer and 14th-place finisher Pat Freeman. Steve Carnduff, who came in 20th, rounded out the top five for the Spartans.

“We’re still fully focused on sectionals, but this was another positive step for us,” Lasher said. “The boys ran really determined. I was happy for them that their hard work paid off.”

On the girls side, senior Lauren Scarupa finished second in ECIC III and fifth overall with a time of 19:50 to help the Lady Spartans nip Amherst by one point for the league title. A trio of Starpoint girls finished in the top 14, thus earning second team all-ECIC III honors. Courtney Laderer was ninth, Cassie Weldon was 10th and Molly Emerick finished 14th. Audrey Collins rounded out the top five for Starpoint, finishing in 16th.

“Considering where we started — being incomplete for our first few meets — this was extremely gratifying,” Lasher said. “Everyone has played their roles and we now believe we have a good chance to win (sectionals) next week.”

Lasher was named the ECIC Coach of the Year by his peers at the meet.

Tonawanda did not report its results.

N-O Championships

The Wilson girls took the team title and tied for the overall league championship with rival Newfane after junior Amber Lehman led a strong group of Lakewomen runners at Lakeside Beach State Park. It was the first league championship for girls cross country in school history. Teammates Kari Kopchick (ninth), Bridgette Austin (10th) and Stephanie Paduano (11th) were also a big part of the title, according to veteran coach Brett Sippel.

“The championship was something they have been shooting for all season, so it was nice to see them get a piece of it,” he said. “We had a great pack of girls out there (Saturday).”

Albion’s Hannah Moffett won the race in 20:16, while the rest of the first team all-N-O squad included Lehman, Rachel Parker (Newfane, third), Ellen Goldhawk (Akron, fourth), Emma Wilson (Akron, fifth), Katelynne Klossner (Albion, sixth) and Kelly Heuer (Roy-Hart, seventh). The second team was comprised of Erin Hannah (Newfane, eighth), Kopchick, Austin, Emily Harrington (Newfane, 11th), Paduano, Amber Sweeney (Barker, 13th) and Jamie Przybl (Barker, 14th).

The team scoring was Wilson 46, Newfane 52, Albion 72, Barker 85, Akron 97, CSAT 163, Royalton-Hartland Inc. and Medina Inc.

On the boys side, the much-anticipated matchup between Wilson’s Kevin Hanes and Roy-Hart’s Vince Donner went to Hanes by four seconds. The sophomore finished the course in 17:56.

“Kevin was leading for the whole race, so the four-second margin was pretty steady throughout,” Sippel said. “All three guys up front will be in contention to represent the N-O at states during the Class C race next week at sectionals.”

The rest of the first-team all-N-O team included Eric Kowalik (Akron, third), Erick Bennes (Barker, fourth), Tyler Scheving (Barker, fifth), Shawn Thompson (Barker, sixth) and Mike Reubens (Wilson, seventh). The second team was comprised of Cody Burns (Newfane, eighth), Cameron Harvey (Albion, ninth), Ryan Lamb (Barker, 10th), Juan Broyles (Roy-Hart, 11th), Josh Martin (Newfane, 12th), Bryan Deibel (Albion, 13th) and Ben Schaefer (Akron, 14th).

Barker finished off its unbeaten season with the team championship. The team scoring was Barker 34, Akron 81, Royalton-Hartland 92, Albion 93, Newfane 104, Wilson 121, Medina 179 and CSAT 238.

NFL Championships

Grand Island senior Evan Tsembelis (16:31) beat Lockport junior Drew Perilli for first place, but the Lions took the team title en route to finishing off an undefeated league championship at Beaver Island State Park. Beside Perilli, Alex Lennert (fourth), Jeremy Orton (fifth) and Nic Dye (seventh) were first-team all-NFL performers for LHS. Rounding out the first team were Nick Masiello (Grand Island, third) and Nick Kirisits (North Tonawanda, sixth). The second team included Brennon Cain (Lockport, eighth), Alex Farrell (North Tonawanda, ninth), Derek Stacey (Grand Island, 10th), Ian Carlino (Kenmore West, 11th), Philip Fending (Niagara-Wheatfield, 12th), Dustin Johnson (North Tonawanda, 13th) and Jared Quinn (North Tonawanda, 14th).

The team scoring was Lockport 26, Grand Island 56, North Tonawanda 85, Niagara-Wheatfield 123, Niagara Falls 144, Kenmore East 151, Lewiston-Porter 152 and Kenmore West 174.

Junior Maritina Tsembelis of Grand Island completed the sibling sweep when she crossed the finish line first in the girls race in 20:43. Her teammate Megan Karpie was second, helping the Vikings capture the team title and finish off an undefeated season. Rounding out the first-team all-NFL squad was Allie Bartkowiak (Lockport), Dominique DeGregorio (Grand Island), Maggie Russell (Lockport), Emilee Petti (Lockport) and Jennifer Raby (Lew-Port). The second team included Sarah Bartkowiak (Lockport), Angelina Howe (Grand Island), April Maziarz (North Tonawanda), Toni LaMantina (Niagara-Wheatfield), Erica Marconi (Ken West), Kelci Yousett (Lockport) and Maggie DeMarco (Grand Island).

The team scoring was Grand Island 30, Lockport 35, North Tonawanda 100, Lewiston-Porter 126, Niagara Falls 132, Niagara-Wheatfield 133, Kenmore West 152 and Kenmore East Inc.

Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, ext. 2262.

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